Como
Lombardy
Elegant Lake Como dining with Alpine influences and stunning lakeside restaurants with mountain views.
Elegant Lake Como dining with Alpine influences and stunning lakeside restaurants with mountain views.
We think of Como as the ‘gateway’ to Lake Como as it’s connected by train or by direct car route to Milan, making it easy to get to and from. Once in Como, there’s a variety of ways to navigate Lake Como from multiple ferry options and bus routes that go around the lake, to the more adventurous that want to brave driving in their own car. As it is easier to get to and a bigger city on Lake Como, there are a lot of day trippers that pass through. However, we’ve found that earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon the crowds vanish, and you are left with a charming, very clean city that is extremely walk friendly with a lot of fabulous food choices. We highly recommend staying and exploring around this cute town!
Best Airport(s)
Milan Malpensa (MXP), Milan Linate (LIN)
Estimated Time (Airport → City)
MXP → Como: ~45–70 min (car) / ~1h10–1h40 (train)
LIN → Como: ~60–90 min (car) / ~1h20–2h00 (train via Milano Centrale)
Main Train Station(s)
Como S. Giovanni, Como Lago
Quick Tip
Como Lago is best if you want to step straight into the waterfront area.
Jump to:
We stayed in this delightful accommodation for our short 3-night stay in Como. Centrally located in town, Alessia's Place was a short walk from the train station, all of the restaurants and cafes, as well as the water! It was the perfect spot to explore the city, as it was our first time visiting Lake Como.
Photo source: Alessia's Place
Chef Federico Beretta and his wife Elisa Fornanelli have built something special in Como. We definitely recommend getting the tasting menu here. It’s a fantastic menu that changes seasonally, so you’ll always get the freshest, seasonal ingredients. We dined there in the fall, so our dishes were full of foraged mushrooms, white truffle, and pumpkin (all of our favorites). The pumpkin risotto, beef check with goulash sauce, and a duck breast tangerine glaze were incredible. Don’t skimp on the bread either - their selection is divine, as were their dessert selections. We can’t wait to go back and try Feel Como in other seasons.
Do you like meat cooked over an open flame? If so, L’Antica Trattoria is for you! And they don’t just have meat - they make it a point to be inclusive and have a wide variety of options for non-meat eaters (and those with other dietary restrictions). We loved watching the piece of meat that we chose cooked in real-time over an open flame! The meat quality and selection here is phenomenal. Dare we say that we liked it better than some other more famous steak options in nearby regions? They also offer 6 different styles of salts to try with your meats, along with a great variety of sides. Save room for dessert if you can - the options are yummy!
Rive Enoteca is a fantastic alternative to a traditional restaurant. With an innovative way of dispensing wine, they have several dozen choices that allows you to try wines from all over the region. You can also decide the pour size you’d like to try, which makes it a great way to sample different wines. They also have traditional options by the glass and by the bottle, if you prefer. Pair your wine selection(s) with a charcuterie board (only the freshest, local ingredients offered) and delicious pasta. Come here for an adventurous evening of trying new wines and great food options.
If you’re in Como, you’re probably going to be exploring many of the towns of Lake Como. We recommend making your way to the picturesque town of Varenna. Head to the quiet piazza where Ristorante Al Prato is located. If you’re fortunate enough to be there at a time of year where you can sit outside, the ambiance is lovely! For menu recommendations, if you like seafood, the octopus starter is excellent. For pasta, we tried the tagliatelle with local fish, asparagus, and tomatoes and a mushroom ravioli. Both wonderful dishes, accompanied by a glass of wine.
Not that you’d ever get tired of risotto, but if you’d like to try something different that is corn- based rather than rice, polenta is a great choice. Made in a ton of different varieties, from like a bread to more like a porridge, with different additions to change the flavor profile, no two polentas are the same. Look for what stands out in how different chefs prepare theirs!
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